5. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to approval requested for appointments of new members and reappointments to the Cambridge Library Board of Trustees. (CM22#246)
Appointments Approved 9-0

Dec 19, 2022 [abridged]
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am writing to recommend that the following Cambridge residents be appointed to three-year terms on the Cambridge Library Board of Trustees: Elisabeth Werby, Michael Baenan, and Risa Mednick. I am also recommending that current Trustees Jim Roosevelt and Karen Kosko each be reappointed to another three-year term.
…

About the Library Board of Trustees

Established under Ch. 2.46 of CMC, the Library Board of Trustees is a six-person board. Library trustees are volunteer community representatives, library advocates, and leaders in the establishment of goals and policies for the Cambridge Public Library system. Trustees are a vital link between the library staff and the community and work to ensure the quality of library services, collections, and programs, and to make certain that the library reflects and is relevant to the community. There are currently five vacancies on the Library Board of Trustees.
…

Summary of Applications, Screening and Interview Process

The City initially received seventeen applications for the Board of Trustees. Library staff invited each applicant to participate in an initial zoom interview. Four candidates either did not respond or withdrew. First round interviews were conducted with thirteen applicants by a committee consisting of Manager of Branch Services Philecia Harris and Director of Libraries Maria McCauley. The interview consisted of a set of five questions asked of each candidate to determine understanding of role, experience, strengths and challenges and a scenario question. The first-round interview committee selected 6 candidates to advance to the next round of interviews.

Second-round in-person interviews were conducted by Deputy Director of Libraries Joy Kim, Assistant Director for Library Human Resources Rutuja Patwardhan, and Maria McCauley. The second round of interview questions included eight questions to determine understanding of the role, experience, applicable skills, understanding of equity work, working in teams and three scenario questions. The second panel unanimously recommended: Elisabeth Werby, Michael Baenan, and Risa Mednick for their understanding of the position, experience, and skills.

Additionally, two board members with expiring appointments requested to be considered for another term: Jim Roosevelt and Karen Kosko. The Library staff support these reappointments because of these members’ longstanding commitment and fine work on the board.

About the Recommended Appointees

Elizabeth Werby has approximately thirty years of experience working for non-profit cultural institutions on strategic planning, fundraising, and program and exhibition development and evaluation. She has worked with institutions including the ACLU Women’s Rights Project (New York), Harvard Museum of Natural History, Northeastern University, and the American Museum of Natural History. Her projects have included rethinking cultural exhibitions and programming in light of museum decolonization efforts, collaborations with diverse communities in New York City and with Native American/First Nations Groups and developing an institutional DEI Plan.

Michael Baenan has more than two decades of experience in leadership positions in higher education, at both MIT and Tufts University. He left full-time professional work in mid-2020 in order to focus on community service and currently works for program that supports community building among those experiencing homelessness and housing instability in greater Boston. He serves on the Board of the Royall House and Slave Quarters in Medford, which is committed to telling the history of slavery and freedom while highlighting how the legacy of enslavement creates systemic inequalities today.

Risa Mednick brings many years of deep experience in Cambridge nonprofits and human services organization. She currently works as an independent organizational change consultant. For a decade she was the Executive Director of domestic violence intervention and prevention organization Transition House, Inc. She was a co-creator of the Cambridge Domestic and Gender Violence Initiative, the Cambridge Non-Profit Coalition, and the VOX Project to fight against child abuse.

About the Recommended Re-Appointees

Karen Kosko has a long-standing commitment to Cambridge libraries and deep understanding of the role of the Trustees. She served as a librarian at the Haggerty School for eighteen years and as a CPL branch manager for six years. She has been a member of the Massachusetts Center for the Book Awards Committee over the past 4 years and a prior Horn Book judge (which involved reviewing 700 books for youth).

Jim Roosevelt has a long-standing commitment to the Library and deep understanding of the role of the Trustees. He has extensive experience as an attorney and healthcare CEO. He has served as Associate Commissioner of the U.S. Social Security Administration, a visiting fellow at the Institute of Politics of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a clinical instructor in the Public Health and Community Medicine Department of Tufts University School of Medicine. He brings strong experiences in strategic planning, business management, finance, operations, and capital planning.

With your approval, we look forward to working with all five of these individuals on the Cambridge Library Board of Trustees.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

6. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $4,709,473 from the Water Fund Balance, Retained Earnings ($2,354,737) and from Free Cash ($2,354,736), to the Water Fund Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($3,392,903) and to Water Public Investment Extraordinary Expenditures account ($1,316,570) to fund the purchase of water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). (CM22#247)
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted 9-0

Dec 19, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $4,709,473 from the Water Fund Balance, Retained Earnings ($2,354,737) and from Free Cash ($2,354,736), to the Water Fund Other Ordinary Maintenance account ($3,392,903) and to Water Public Investment Extraordinary Expenditures account ($1,316,570) to fund the purchase of water from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA).

Cambridge temporarily switched to Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) water on August 30, 2022, as a precautionary measure due to concerns about above-average Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl compound (PFAS6) levels in Cambridge water and supply chain delays for receiving the city’s new Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filter media, which is proven to remove PFAS6 compounds from water.

The City’s connection to the MWRA water distribution system works as a fail-safe or form of redundancy that Cambridge Water Department (CWD) has available to it when necessary. While it’s intended primarily for emergencies, CWD has also activated the MWRA for pre-planned treatment plant or water distribution system maintenance and construction projects.

During those preplanned events CWD always maintained the ability to run water through the treatment plant and to the storage system at Payson Park to ensure that both facilities continued to remain operationally available. This occasion however was a relatively unique circumstance. The Water Department and MassDEP worked together on an innovative approach, taking advantage of the architecture of Payson Park, where the reservoir is divided in two, and provided that one side of the reservoir flowed water to the treatment plant to keep it operational while the other side of the reservoir provided MWRA water to the community. With this approach, the Water Department was able to run the plant and prevent adverse consequences which can result from extended plant shutdowns.

The Water Department has been able to successfully change out the filter media in the first two of six filters. The new GAC filter media resulted in PFAS samples testing at “Not Detected” as defined by MassDEP Regulation, which allowed a return to Cambridge water. The carbon changeout project has continued with the removal of the old media in two more filters during the week of November 29th. Installation of the GAC media in the filters was completed on Thurs, Dec 8, 2022, and lab tests for those filters are currently underway.

Cambridge continuously tests its water to ensure compliance with US Environmental Protection Agency and Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection regulations and typically surpasses all regulations. Additionally, the Cambridge Water Department has an on-site certified laboratory that tests many water quality parameters to optimize its treatment performance and water quality. Annually, all water users in the city receive a detailed water quality report by mail in June.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

7. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation of $700,000 from Water Fund Balance (Retained Earnings) account to the Water Public Investment Extraordinary Expenditures account, to fund the purchase of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) testing equipment. (CM22#248)
pulled by Zondervan; Order Adopted 9-0

Dec 19, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting the appropriation of $700,000 from Water Fund Balance (Retained Earnings) account to the Water Public Investment Extraordinary Expenditures account, to fund the purchase of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) testing equipment.

The estimated cost of the Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometer (LCMS) PFAS Testing Equipment includes a 5-year warrantee/service contract, facility modifications to install and operate and a 10% contingency.

Since 2019 the Cambridge Water Department (CWD) has continued sampling for PFAS compounds throughout the City’s reservoirs located within the towns of Lexington, Lincoln, Waltham, and Weston, as well as at Fresh Pond Reservoir and from some of the treatment plant processes.

During this period, it has become evidently clear that having the ability to test for PFAS in-house would not only be more cost effective but allow CWD to more effectively monitor and react to any changes in PFAS levels throughout the system through more frequent sampling and much shorter turnaround times on test results. It will provide the ability to do extensive PFAS investigation within the 24 square mile watershed to potentially find the source or sources of PFAS contamination. Define the PFAS removal efficiency at each stage of the treatment process, and to determine when the granular active carbon (GAC) filter media needs to be changed out/replaced in order to maintain the lowest levels of PFAS compounds.

Over the last several months, lab staff have been researching and visiting other state certified PFAS laboratories to find the most accurate and reliable equipment. As a result, it was determined that the lab staff is capable of getting the equipment up and running and is prepared to go through the state laboratory certification process.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

8. Transmitting Communication from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the appropriation in the amount of $9,812,215.88 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Capital Projects Control Account ($7,036,323.82); to the Grant Fund Historical Control Account ($29,909.04); to the Grant Fund Public Celebrations Control Account ($78,836.02) and to the Grant Fund Police Control Account ($92,457), as well ($2,574,690) to the Capital Receivables account. This is an accounting transaction adjustment requested by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR), Division of Local Service) based on a change in their position and will eliminate negative balances which have been included in our annual Free Cash calculation for several years. (CM22#249)
Order Adopted 9-0

Dec 19, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

I am hereby requesting an appropriation in the amount of $9,812,215.88 from Free Cash to the Public Investment Fund Capital Projects Control Account ($7,036,323.82); to the Grant Fund Historical Control Account ($29,909.04); to the Grant Fund Public Celebrations Control Account ($78,836.02) and to the Grant Fund Police Control Account ($92,457.00); as well as to the Capital Receivables account ($2,574,690).

This is an accounting transaction adjustment requested by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR), Division of Local Service based on a change in their position and will eliminate negative balances which have been included in our annual Free Cash calculation for several years. Therefore, there will be no reduction in our Free Cash balance for the next fiscal year when our Free Cash amount is recertified based on this action since the negative balances will be eliminated on the City’s books.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

9. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to changing the name of the City’s Climate Protection Action Committee’s (“CPAC”) to the “Cambridge Climate Committee.” (CM22#250)
pulled by Nolan; Placed on File 9-0

Dec 19, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:
Re: Climate Plan Action Committee Requested Name Change

Dear Councilors:

I am writing to inform you that I have approved changing the name of the City’s Climate Protection Action Committee’s (“CPAC”) at its recommendation, through the Community Development Department (“CDD”). Over the past several months, CPAC has developed a strategic plan to clarify its role, purpose, and value to the City. As part of this endeavor, CPAC desires to change its name to the “Cambridge Climate Committee,” as a more streamlined and accessible name, in connection with the reappointment process for current members and solicitation of new members.

By way of background, on May 24, 1999, the City joined the Cities for Climate Protection campaign, sponsored by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), following the passage of a Council Order. A greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory was conducted by the City during the summer of 1999 to establish a baseline and to project future emissions. The City Manager appointed members to a Climate Protection Task Force, which in consultation with City staff drafted the Climate Protection Plan to establish goals and outline strategies to achieve GHG emission reductions, including the proposal for the City to adopt a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 20% below 1990 levels by the year 2010.1 The City Manager submitted the Climate Protection Plan to the City Council on Dec 16, 2002 and the Council adopted the Plan, including the target outlined therein, on that date. The Plan also included the recommendation for the City Manager to establish a standing advisory committee, which resulted in the creation of CPAC. [CPAC’s role is to influence City policies, practices, and community action through education, persuasion, networking, and advocacy. CPAC also assists the City by acting as a sounding board and forum for analyzing climate issues, including monitoring and reporting annually on Cambridge’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.] Pursuant to the Plan, the City Manager appoints members to CPAC for approval by the City Council. Because CPAC was created as a result of the 2002 Council Order, I wanted to inform the Council of my approval of CPAC’s requested name change.

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

10. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board recommending adoption of the BZA Stipends Zoning Petition, with additional comments. (CM22#251)
pulled by Carlone; Referred to Petition 9-0

Date: Dec 14, 2022
Subject: Board of Zoning Appeal (BZA) Stipends Zoning Petition
Recommendation: ADOPTION, with additional comments.

To the Honorable, the City Council,
On Dec 6, 2022, the Planning Board (the “Board”) held a public hearing to discuss a Zoning Petition by the City Council to amend Section 10.12 of the Zoning Ordinance to delete the sentence that currently reads “They shall serve without compensation” with respect to BZA members (the “Petition”).

Following public comment, questions to staff from the City’s Community Development Department (CDD) and Law Department, and discussion among Board members, the Planning Board voted to transmit a favorable recommendation on this Petition to the City Council, with the following comments.

The Board understands that the Petition is related to a City effort to begin providing stipends to members of various appointed boards and commissions. The Board sees no reason why BZA members should be singled out as ineligible for stipends if they are provided to members of similar boards and commissions.

Board members expressed different views on the merits of providing stipends to members of boards and commissions. Several Board members and CDD staff noted that the time and cost of serving on these groups can discourage some community members who would otherwise bring valuable perspectives to the process. However, some members expressed the view that stipends might not make a considerable difference in participation. Some members said that we would not know for sure until we tried.

Before offering stipends, the Board strongly recommends that the City determine how it might change the status of certain members as “special municipal employees” under state conflict-of-interest laws. A change in that designation could impact members with certain qualifications.

The Planning Board voted 8-0 in favor of transmitting the above recommendation.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
Catherine Preston Connolly, Chair

11. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a Planning Board report recommending adoption of the Suzanne Blier, et al., Zoning Petition, with additional considerations. (CM22#252)
Referred to Petition 9-0

Date: Dec 14, 2022
Subject: Blier, et al., Zoning Petition
Recommendation: The Planning Board recommends ADOPTION, with additional considerations.

To the Honorable, the City Council,
On Dec 6, 2022, the Planning Board (the “Board”) held a public hearing to discuss a Zoning Petition by Suzanne Blier, et al., to amend Section 20.54.9 of the Zoning Ordinance (the “Petition”). The Petition would modify the current limitations on the street frontage of banks, trust companies, or similar financial institutions in the Harvard Square Overlay District. The Board heard a presentation from Suzanne Blier, representing the petitioners, and received written materials from staff in the City’s Community Development Department (CDD).

Following the presentation, public comment, and discussion among Board members, the Planning Board voted to transmit a favorable recommendation on this Petition to the City Council, with some additional suggestions.

The Board was generally supportive of limiting the frontage of banks in the Harvard Square Overlay District and agreed that some recent as-of-right bank proposals had outcomes that did not reflect the intent of the current zoning (see the attached Planning Board staff memo for additional context). Board members agreed that the limitations in zoning should promote the following outcomes:

• The frontage of a bank should be limited across all streets on which it has frontage. For example, a corner bank location should count its total frontage across both streets. Likewise, if a bank has multiple entrances on different sides of a building fronting different streets, the total frontage should be counted across all streets.

• Frontage should include space occupied by a bank that is blocked by a sort of “veneer” or other design that superficially blocks the frontage of the bank. For example, if a bank use is behind a blank brick wall or a narrow buffer space, then that length should count towards total frontage. The Board agreed that the goal is to promote transparency and activation at the ground level, consistent with the unique character of Harvard Square. Board members acknowledged that if there are site-specific scenarios where it would be acceptable to have a bank use located behind a “blank wall” or similar screening treatment, that proposal could seek a special permit from the Planning Board so that it does not lead to unintended outcomes.

• The limitation should apply to the cumulative frontage of banks along an entire building, and not just to each individual bank establishment. Some Board Members noted that it might be acceptable to have multiple banks within a building so long as each bank is limited in frontage. However, Board members also recognized that there might be too many opportunities for unintended outcomes if a single bank entity attempts to differentiate its functions to be considered separate “establishments” in order to occupy more frontage than desired.

Board members acknowledged that it will be difficult to draft zoning language that minimizes unanticipated workarounds, and therefore recommends that CDD and Law Department staff be asked to review the Petition text and suggest changes that will ensure the intended outcomes as much as possible. Board members also acknowledged that because it is difficult to apply uniform requirements to many different types of conditions, making the rules more restrictive might prompt a large number of special permit applications from proposed bank uses in the future.

The Planning Board voted with 8 members in favor of transmitting the above recommendation.

Respectfully submitted for the Planning Board,
Catherine Preston Connolly, Chair.

12. A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-79, which requested that the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and Department of Public Works meet with and receive input from residents living on the streets in the impacted area to discuss strategies to mitigate and reduce overflow and cut through traffic, including the proposal mentioned in the order, or other traffic calming or traffic diversion methods, and report back to the Council on any short-term recommendations no later than December 19. (CM22#253) [TPP memorandum]
pulled by Toner; Placed on File 9-0

Dec 19, 2022
To the Honorable, the City Council:

In response to Awaiting Report Item Number 22-79, which requested that the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department and Department of Public Works meet with and receive input from residents living on the streets in the impacted area to discuss strategies to mitigate and reduce overflow and cut through traffic, including the proposal mentioned in the order, or other traffic calming or traffic diversion methods, and report back to the Council on any short-term recommendations no later than December 19, please find attached a response from the Acting Chief of Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Brooke McKenna. [TPP memorandum]

Very truly yours,
Yi-An Huang
City Manager

CHARTER RIGHT
1. That the City Manager is requested to work with the appropriate departments to conduct street cleaning without towing starting with the 2023 season. [Charter Right – Simmons. Dec 5, 2022] (PO22#312)
Order Adopted as Amended 6-1-1-1 (Toner - NO, McGovern - ABSENT, Simmons - PRESENT)

O-3     Dec 5, 2022  Charter Right - Simmons
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
WHEREAS: Cambridge is required by law to conduct regular street cleaning in order to remove leaf litter and meet our stormwater phosphorus quality requirements; and
WHEREAS: Other cities have been able to achieve satisfactory results during street cleaning without regularly towing vehicles each month as part of the process; and
WHEREAS: Fees associated with getting towed for street cleaning include a $100 initial towing fee, a $30 ticket issued by the Traffic & Parking Department, an accumulating surcharge of $35 for each day that the vehicle is not picked up, and a $25 letter in the mail if the vehicle is not picked up within 48 hours, all in addition to potentially having to use rideshare to get to the tow yard itself; and
WHEREAS: The burden of retrieving a towed vehicle and paying these fees disproportionately impacts lower income residents, and the daily accumulating surcharge requires people to immediately come up with the money or face an ever-increasing fine; and
WHEREAS: Tow trucks emit polluting particulates that have adverse public health consequences and their idling and operation on street cleaning days contributes emissions to our city’s air and detracts from efforts to reduce emission pollution; and
WHEREAS: More thought should be given to less punitive measures that would allow for an effective cleaning of the streets without a towing process that can be devastating, including (but not limited to) escalating ticketing fees and continuing to tow vehicles that repeatedly fail to comply; and
WHEREAS: It may take time to see satisfactory and consistent results after changes are made; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate departments to conduct street cleaning without towing starting with the 2023 season, and to employ other methods that would continue to incentivize compliance including (but not limited to) an escalating ticketing schedule; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council no later than Dec 31, 2022 Jan 31, 2023 on the feasibility of eliminating regular towing as part of the street cleaning process.

COMMUNICATIONS
1. A communication was received from Robert J. LaTrémouille, regarding DCR falsely claiming sainthood on the Charles, ONCE AGAIN. (Dec 1)

2. A communication was received from Robert J. LaTrémouille, regarding yet another properly filed document censored from the City Council Agenda. (Dec 6)

3. A communication was received from Robert J. LaTrémouille, regarding yet another properly filed document censored from the City Council Agenda. (Dec 6)

4. A communication was received from Ali Sullo, regarding the Garden Street Safety Improvement Project. (Dec 2)

5. A communication was received from Nicoleta Theodosiou, regarding 931 Mass Ave parking. (Dec 4)

6. A communication was received from Suzanne Blier, regarding On House Doctoring and Decision Making -- CM Agenda #6, CM 90 Day Report + Golden transparency/accountability. (Dec 5)

7. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding City Manager Agenda Item #6 – City Manager's 90 Day Report, CMA 2022 #240. (Dec 5)

8. A communication was received from Ruth Ryals, regarding City Manager Agenda Item #6 – City Manager's 90 Day Report., CMA 2022 #240. (Dec 5)

9. A communication was received from Dan Eisner, regarding Policy order 311/the mental health toll of the pandemic. (Dec 5)

10. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding CM Agenda Item #6. (Dec 5)

11. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Follow-up: City Manager Agenda Item #6 - City Manager's 90 Day Report, CMA 2022 #240. (Dec 7)

12. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Follow-up Communication re: City Manager Agenda Item #6, 12/5/2022. (Dec 8)

13. A communication was received from Young Kim, regarding Reopening Memorial Drive to cars earlier & requesting action on another DCR parkway. (Dec 10)

14. A communication was received from Ross Moyer, regarding proposed zoning changes. (Dec 11)

15. A communication was received from Paul E. Fallon, regarding ticket and towing policy re: street cleaning. (Dec 11)

16. A communication was received from Natalie Ribeiro, representing Trustees of Cambridge Point Condominiums, regarding Linear Park Redesign - Concerns. (Dec 11)

17. A communication was received from Rabbi Yoni, regarding City Manager Yi-An Huang Inclusionary Housing Resident Experience Survey. (Dec 13)

18. A communication was received from Robert J. LaTrémouille, regarding a follow up to my last communication on the outrages being hidden in the habitat of the Charles River White Geese. (Dec 15)

5. Resolution on the death of Sheila Doyle Russell.   Councillor Toner, Mayor Siddiqui, Councillor Simmons, Councillor McGovern, Councillor Azeem, Councillor Carlone, Vice Mayor Mallon, Councillor Nolan, Councillor Zondervan
Adopted as Amended 8-0-1 (McGovern ABSENT)

R-5     Dec 19, 2022
COUNCILLOR TONER
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR SIMMONS
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
COUNCILLOR AZEEM
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
VICE MAYOR MALLON
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN

WHEREAS: The City Council was deeply saddened at learning of the death of Sheila Russell on December 12, 2022; and

WHEREAS: Sheila was the devoted wife of the late Mayor Leonard Russell and predeceased by her son Billy and sister Marylou; and

WHEREAS: Sheila’s passing will leave a void in the lives of all her surviving family, her loving children Lenny and his wife Sandy, Eileen and her husband John, Nancy and her husband Ed, Katie and her husband Scott, cherished grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 3, nieces and nephews, sister of Nancy and James “Buddy” and her gang fondly nicknamed “The Murphy Chicks”; and

WHEREAS: Sheila Doyle Russell was a lifelong resident of Cambridge, graduating from St. John’s High School in North Cambridge; and

WHEREAS: Sheila married Leonard J. Russell at the age of 20, and stayed home to raise their 5 children while serving as an accountant to the family trucking business; and

WHEREAS: 1967 marked the beginning of Sheila’s indoctrination into the world of Cambridge politics when her husband Leonard campaigned for Cambridge City Council, being elected in 1973, elected mayor in 1984, and served until his death in1985; and

WHEREAS: Sheila was elected to the Cambridge City Council in 1985 where she served the residents of Cambridge for 14 years, a strong advocate for the elderly and Cambridge businesses and being described as “the glue that holds the council together”; and

WHEREAS: Sheila was elected as the 66th Mayor of the City of Cambridge during the 1996-1997 term; and

WHEREAS: A tireless leader, Sheila’s tenure includes the opening of the Cambridge city-wide Senior Center, the Irish famine monument being brought to the Cambridge Common, and assisting in the creation of the North Cambridge Anti-Crime Task Force; and

WHEREAS: In 2009, the Mayor Sheila Doyle Russell Youth and Community Center was opened honoring Sheila for her work and dedication to the community that she served; and

WHEREAS: Sheila enjoyed Friday nights at Bickford’s with friends listening to Irish music and the beautiful breeze off Hull Bay, her home away from home, spending summers entertaining on the front porch; and

WHEREAS: Sheila will be sorely missed by all she touched and loved; now therefore be it

RESOLVED: That this City Council go on record extending its deepest sympathy for the family of Sheila Doyle Russell at this time of such personal loss; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward a suitably engrossed copy of this resolution to the Russell family on behalf of the entire City Council.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
1. The Neighborhood and Long-Term Planning Committee met on Wed, Oct 19, 2022 to conduct a public meeting to discuss the Cambridge Street Study: Findings and Recommendations Update. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (McGovern - ABSENT)
Present: Carlone, Nolan, Zondervan (late)
Remote Present: McGovern
Absent: Mallon

2. The Economic Development and University Relations Committee met on Tues, Nov 22, 2022 to conduct a public meeting to receive an update on the BEUDO amendments from the Community Development Department and a discussion of the environmental and economic impact of BEUDO on residential, business and academic properties/communities. Meeting was recessed and not adjourned. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File 7-0-2 (McGovern, Simmons - ABSENT)
Present: Toner, Mallon, Nolan
Remote Present: Azeem, Zondervan
Absent: None

3. The Human Services and Veterans Committee met on Tues, Nov 29, 2022 to conduct a public meeting to discuss the unhoused population in Cambridge and uptick in substance use in Central Square. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File 7-0-2 (McGovern, Simmons - ABSENT)
Present: McGovern, Mallon, (Carlone)
Remote Present: Azeem, Toner, Zondervan, (Simmons)
Absent: None

4. The Neighborhood & Long-Term Planning, Public Facilities, Arts & Celebrations Committee held a public meeting on Wed, Nov 30, 2022 to receive and update on the latest recommendations from the Alewife Zoning Working. Meeting was recessed and not adjourned. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File 8-0-1 (McGovern - ABSENT)
Present: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan
Remote Present: Zondervan, (Simmons)
Absent: None

5. The Ordinance Committee held a public meeting on Tues, Dec 6, 2022, at 1:00pm to discuss proposed Ordinance #2022-20, Emissions Accounting Zoning. The Committee voted favorably to send three policy orders to the City Council that appear on this agenda in the Policy Order section. Further, the Committee voted to send proposed Ordinance #2022-20, Emissions Accounting Zoning as amended, to the Full Council with a favorable recommendation to Pass to a 2nd Reading. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File, Passed to 2nd Reading 7-0-2 (McGovern, Simmons - ABSENT)
Present: Carlone, Mallon (late), McGovern, Nolan, Zondervan
Remote Present: Azeem, Simmons, Toner, Siddiqui
Absent: None

A. An Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc City Clerk, relative to Emissions Accounting Zoning Petition - Ordinance #2022-20.

6. The Ordinance Committee held a public meeting to continue the discussion of Pregnancy Centers, proposed Ordinance #2022-16 on Dec 6, 2022 @3pm. The Committee voted to send proposed Ordinance #2022-16 as amended, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, to the full Council with a favorable recommendation to Pass to a 2nd Reading. [text of report] - Report Accepted, Placed on File, Passed to 2nd Reading 8-0-1 (McGovern - ABSENT)
Present: Carlone, Mallon, McGovern, Nolan, Toner (late), Zondervan
Remote Present: Azeem, Simmons, Siddiqui
Absent: None

A. An Ordinance has been received from Diane P. LeBlanc City Clerk, relative to Banning Limited Services Pregnancy Centers - Ordinance #2022-16

2. A communication was received from Councillor Nolan and Mayor Siddiqui transmitting a Charter Review Committee Status Update. (COF22#165)
Placed on File 8-0-1 (McGovern - ABSENT)

COUNCILLOR NOLAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI

Dear Members of the City Council,

The purpose of this communication is to update the City Council and the community on the work of the Charter Review Committee [CRC] established by the City Council earlier this year. The CRC was appointed, per the charter, to start work on July 1. The passage of the charter ballot question requiring a review of the charter every ten years starting in 2022 led to the CRC, which has been working with the assistance of the Collins Center to review our current Plan E charter. A facilitator who helped Somerville with their recent charter review was hired a month ago to ensure the work will be done without burdening existing staff. The CRC has been meeting every other Tuesday, from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. The CRC represents the first of several important steps in reviewing our existing charter. The CRC was formed to review the existing charter and to recommend to the City Council any changes that they consider to be necessary or desirable via a report. The City Council will use the Committee’s report as we consider amending or replacing the charter. Any proposal for changes in the charter approved by the City Council would be placed on the ballot for approval by the voters.

As of this communication, the CRC has met almost a dozen times. They have done the hard work of beginning deliberation as well as setting up resources for public outreach including a website, a newsletter, and a plan for more targeted outreach. The CRC has also adopted ground rules and a value statement to frame their work. Future work will include reviewing all elements of a charter, and outreach to the community at large.

At a recent meeting, after thoughtful discussion and deliberation, the CRC took a preliminary vote to recommend drafting new language for the Cambridge City Charter. That recommendation is based on best practice, and the vote was unanimous. The vote to draft a new charter was done with the understanding and knowledge that a new charter could, if desired, maintain every element of the current charter. Starting fresh with a new charter means that the charter would no longer use Plan E, a form of charter no longer allowed in the Commonwealth. Current municipal government charters are usually based on a model charter with each element of the charter decided by the municipality based on needs and circumstances.

The CRC has not made any decision on a recommendation on the form of government or any other decisions regarding the content of the charter, which will be discussed over the next several months. It is a historic decision to modernize the language of the charter and make it more accessible for all residents.

The CRC will continue their work and begin digging into each of the specific articles of a charter. As a reminder, a charter establishes the form of government and governance. It does not establish policies or practices or goals. The sections of charter cover overarching areas of governance such as basic administrative information, city council composition, roles and authority of the governing bodies, whether a city manager or mayor or council, school committee selection, budget authority, citizen petitions, election process, and guidelines for transition to a new charter.

As the CRC’s work continues, we invite you all to participate as much as possible and to help publicize their work so that the community is aware of the work. And we hope that when the recommendation comes to the full Council, we are fully prepared to dig into the issues and discuss the recommendations. If we are to consider changes to be put on the ballot for 2023, the CRC work must be completed in a timely fashion and the City Council would need to work expeditiously to decide on what proposal to put before the voters. A home rule would have to be filed and passed in order for the ballot question to be put forth.

Information about the CRC, including past agendas, meeting materials, all information and recordings from previous meetings as well as dates for future meetings, are all available on the CRC website. [https://www.cambridgema.gov/charterreview] The CRC may be contacted via a group email at CharterReviewCommittee@cambridgema.gov. The CRC is actively soliciting comments from members of the general public and members of the City Council to help inform their work. If you would like to submit written testimony on any topic or speak during public comment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the CRC via email.

As the CRC ramps up their public outreach efforts, we ask that you use your own networks to help publicize the CRC’s work. If you send out a regular newsletter or utilize other distribution networks, please consider sending information about the CRC’s work and direct folks to their website. If it would be helpful, attached to this letter is a flier that the CRC has produced in order to publicize their work.

If you have any questions or comments about the CRC’s work, or the charter review process, please do not hesitate to reach out to the CRC by email. We look forward to working with you all in the future doing the important work of reviewing our city charter.

Sincerely,
Patricia Nolan, City Councillor
Sumbul Siddiqui, Mayor

TEXT OF ORDERS
O-1     Dec 19, 2022
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 6, 2022 and voted favorably that the City Manager be requested to direct Legal Department and CDD to review the final language of the emissions accounting zoning petition, and make any recommended adjustments, including to the effective date, to the city council prior to ordination.
ORDERED: That City Manager be requested to direct Legal Department and CDD to review the final language of the emissions accounting zoning petition, and make any recommended adjustments, including to the effective date, to the city council prior to ordination.

O-2     Dec 19, 2022
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 6, 2022 and voted favorably that the City Manager be requested to direct CDD to work with relevant stakeholders to provide a preliminary estimate of the cost and time burden of compliance with the emissions accounting provision, prior to ordination.
ORDERED: That City Manager be requested to direct CDD to work with relevant stakeholders to provide a preliminary estimate of the cost and time burden of compliance with the emissions accounting provision, prior to ordination.

O-3     Dec 19, 2022
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN
WHEREAS: The Ordinance Committee met on Dec 6, 2022 and voted favorably that the City Manager be requested to direct CDD to work with relevant stakeholders to inform the design of future regulations associated with accounting for embodied emissions.
ORDERED: That City Manager be requested to direct CDD to work with relevant stakeholders to inform the design of future regulations associated with accounting for embodied emissions.

O-4     Dec 19, 2022
COUNCILLOR NOLAN
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR TONER
WHEREAS: This year, the City planted a second Miyawaki Forest in conjunction with BioDiversity for a Livable Planet in response to Participatory Budgeting project and met the goal of 1000 new trees planted, and has worked to increase that number; and
WHEREAS: The City is seeking to increase the tree canopy there are still problems as evidenced by the recent accidental removal of city trees in the IQHQ project, and the 2022 drought led to the loss of many city trees, including several mature trees in Danehy Park; and
WHEREAS: The City is already working on an update to the UFMP, per past council request and an update to the tree canopy report from 2018 which showed dramatic decline in the canopy was expected to be delivered in June 2022; and
WHEREAS: There will be a Finance Committee meeting addressing Capital Budget concerns in January of 2023, during which time tree planting and management will be addressed; now therefore be it
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with relevant City departments to provide an updated tree canopy projection and provide up to date tree data to reflect the effect of the 2022 drought and plans to remedy tree loss as soon as possible; and be it further
ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with all relevant departments to ensure that the capital project discussion include long-term plans for trees citywide.